Page 551 - Handbooks of Applied Linguistics Communication Competence Language and Communication Problems Practical Solutions

Adapting authentic workplace talk for workplace training 529

– How would you interpret the [speech act/episode]?
– How does the addressee interpret the [speech act/episode]?
– How would you rate the politeness of the [speech act/episode]?
– How would you rate the appropriateness of the [speech act/episode]?

The following tasks (Tasks 2 to 4) require participants to interpret the interac-
tion provided in the Appendix. (Note that the numbering of the tasks reflects the
sequence in the original materials.) In Task 2, participants assess the socioprag-
matic qualities of the interaction which they have listened to, and then in Task 3
look for evidence of pragmalinguistic strategies and forms that realize polite-
ness and directness in the interaction and that support the interpretations they
made in the previous task. The question ‘How would you rate the effectiveness
of Sara’s communication style?’ in Task 2 is particularly interesting in that it en-
courages participants to consider the qualities that make communication effec-
tive or ineffective, thus drawing attention to the face-work being done by Sara
as she seeks to address the sensitive issue of the poor quality writing produced
by her team.

Task 2
Listen to the interaction and rate how Sara communicates with her team on the
scales below (circle a number in each scale).
How polite was Sara?

Polite Impolite
1 2 3 4
How direct was Sara?

Direct Indirect
1 2 3 4

How would you rate the effectiveness of Sara’s communication style?
Very effective Not at all effective
1 2 3 4

To answer this third item you need to define effectiveness You can do this by
identfying the outcomes that would you expect from “effective” communication.
What might these be?

Task 3
Now read the interaction as you listen again. Underline words or phrases that
Sara uses to convey her message constructively and effectively. Note also any